Rear View Mirror: 1941 Lincoln Continental

The Continental was the brainchild of Edsel Ford. Edsel, the only son of Henry Ford, succeeded his famous father as company president – a position that he had held from 1919-1943. Where Ford the elder left his imprint on almost everything in the company that bore his name, Ford the younger made his mark mainly in area of style. The design that became the 1940 Lincoln Continental began as a one-off convertible, commissioned by Edsel Ford, and built on a Lincoln Zephyr chassis. Once completed, this one-of-a-kind creation was shipped to south Florida in 1938, where Edsel drove it while vacationing. So strong was consumer interest, that Edsel directed the company to build a production version. It arrived in time for the 1940 lineup, looking remarkably unchanged from the pre-production concept.

The decidedly continental looking Continental had a lofty price ($2,783-$2,916 in 1940) and luxurious appointments. It was offered in two door coupe and cabriolet models. The car’s construction involved considerable hand finishing, and the low production totals assured that the cars were rarely seen – even when new. Of the 404 Continentals built for model year 1940, 54 were cabriolets. The following year, 400 of the 1,250 built were cabriolets. All models were powered by a 120 hp Lincoln V-12. While that engine had an uneven reputation, quite the opposite would be said of the car. The 1940 Continental (and the nearly identical ’41 models) gained a following among discerning drivers almost immediately. Eventually, these Continentals were among the first cars to be recognized as classics – cars whose design and drivability transcended the era that they were produced in.

Differentiation between marques has become problematic for automakers. We’ve been saying for decades that it’s harder to tell cars apart then it used to be. That’s apparently showed up on the corporate balance sheets as well. As the lines between makes blurred, some profited at the expense of others. So it is that Ford no longer has Mercury, and it was one of the factors in play with GM’s restructuring. Now, we don’t have Oldsmobile, Pontiac or Saturn either.

Looking back at the 50′s, with the expanse of makes and models, different chassis, accompanying costs, etc. it’s hard to believe that any of the manufacturers could’ve made money. Yet, in that climate, many did.